On Marshawn Lynch: ‘Disappointed he’s not here — by his choice, you know?’

On Marshawn Lynch: ‘Disappointed he’s not here — by his choice, you know?’

Pete Carroll (Photo: KCPQ-TV)

RENTON, Wash. — The Seahawks kicked off their 2014 season training camp Friday morning with a sold-out, enthusiastic crowd of spectators on hand, but without star running back Marshawn Lynch.

“Beast Mode” reportedly is holding out for a better deal than the $5 million he is due to be paid this year.

“Disappointed he’s not here — by his choice, you know?” head coach Pete Carroll said at training camp Friday. “I’m really focused on the guys who are here.”

Carroll said with or without Lynch, the team will continue to rely on its running game and added that he’s impressed with second-year running back Christine Michael.

That appeared to be the organizational line, as Seahawks general manager John Schneider was asked about Lynch’s absence Friday morning on the “Brock and Salk” show on radio station 710 ESPN Seattle.

“We all love Marshawn,” Schneider sdaid. “He’s made a decision not to be here. We’re excited about the guys that are here. Everybody’s had a great offseason. Everybody’s working their tail off…

“I think, obviously, Marshawn Lynch is a heck of a running back, you know what I mean? But it’s just like we had players at different positions, like Brandon Browner (no longer with Hawks), and [Byron] Maxwell steps up and is ready to go.

“I think that the players and teammates think that they are comfortable in the next player,” Schneider told the radio show. “That’s no disrespect to Marshawn. I mean, everybody knows what he can do — he caused an earthquake, didn’t he?”

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Seahawks placed outside linebackers Bruce Irvin and Korey Toomer on the physical unable to perform (PUP) list. Irvin had hip surgery in the offseason and Toomer is having nagging hamstring issues.

Rookie defensive back Eric Pinkins suffered a Lisfranc fracture on his left foot and was placed on the non-football injury list.

Three other players who had offseason surgery didn’t practice — OT Russell Okung (toe), safety Kam Chancellor (hip) and LB Malcolm Smith (ankle). But Carroll said he believes all three will be ready to practice in a few days.

10 comments

The World is Ending

If Lynch is looking for more money, his chances of getting it are slim to none, because next season the Hawks are going To need to have big time cap space for Wilison, I would estimate at least 12-15 mil per season, and if they franchise him then he would get about 18 mil for the season. (No contract negation needed)

RonG

Wilson’s rookie contract is not over until after the 2015 season, no need negotiate a new contract until then.
Lynch is the face of this franchise reward his outplaying of his existing contract or show other players that there is no reward for such dedication, effort and self-sacrifice.
Pay the man!
It is all about that respect, Boss.

RonG

There is no running back on the Seahawks’ roster (or in the NFL) that can do what Lynch does. If he chooses to retire, The Seahawks will have a very difficult if not impossible road to the post-season, you can’t hope to be a dynasty if you casually throw away the players who define your franchise.

Phyllis K Browning

Can’t there be some compromise? Marshawn, the fans love you, your power on the field, your skittles, and your story. Management, the fans love you too, especially for the marvelous players you have working in such a unit. Changing parts of a winning unit, even with the best of replacement parts, doesn’t mean that new part will mesh with the rest as perfectly as this unit, the Hawks, currently have. Really good musicians don’t always make more than a mediocre band, because they just don’t mesh.. Sometimes the right group of good players make an original and beautiful sound.

Marshawn needs to realize he has a contract to abide by. He is a good running back but their is always someone better. He is only as good as the front line let him be, do you think they want to give 110% for a contract breaker holdout think again.

Nathan

As much as I like Marshawn Lynch, I have zero respect for what he is doing now. He signed a contract and it does not contain a clause that states he will be able to negotiate for more money if they win the Super Bowl. Everybody is watching what he is doing. Humility goes a long way, don’t lose your convictions to your ego Marshawn.